Nova Scotia labour fears public-sector wage freeze

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Gordon MacDonald, president of Canadian Union of Postal Workers’ Breton Local 117, holds material in support of keeping door-to-door delivery during a Labour Day picnic behind the Civic Centre in Sydney on Monday. (ERIN POTTIE / Cape Breton Bureau)

Gordon MacDonald, president of Canadian Union of Postal Workers’ Breton Local 117, holds material in support of keeping door-to-door delivery during a Labour Day picnic behind the Civic Centre in Sydney on Monday. (ERIN POTTIE / Cape Breton Bureau)

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Cavell Hollett, right, and Ella Carey, volunteers with the Cape Breton District Labour Council, handed out hotdogs during a Labour Day picnic on the Sydney boardwalk on Monday. (ERIN POTTIE / Cape Breton Bureau)

Cavell Hollett, right, and Ella Carey, volunteers with the Cape Breton District Labour Council, handed out hotdogs during a Labour Day picnic on the Sydney boardwalk on Monday. (ERIN POTTIE / Cape Breton Bureau)

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The Labour Day march in Halifax. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)

The Labour Day march in Halifax. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)

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After the march, union members and supporters gathered at the Halifax Common. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)

After the march, union members and supporters gathered at the Halifax Common. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)

Some of Nova Scotia’s highest-ranking labour officials say they have concerns the provincial government could follow the lead of Ontario and try to pursue public-sector wage freezes.

The Kathleen Wynne government announced Friday an agreement with one of that province’s largest public-sector unions that included a two-year wage freeze. On Monday during Labour Day festivities in Halifax, at least one union leader said there are parallels to be drawn.

“It’s a majority Liberal government in Ontario; it’s a public-sector union that agreed to a two-year wage freeze,” said Joan Jessome, head of the Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union. “We’re a public-sector union. All of our members are funded by government almost without exception.”

Since coming to power, the McNeil Liberals have stressed the poor state of the province’s books. The premier and several cabinet ministers have talked publicly about the need for everyone to participate in belt-tightening, something they have said would extend to contract talks. Jessome said she is already seeing evidence of that.

“They’re not hinting at zeros, but they are not hinting at what we just came through — two, 21/2 and three (per cent increases),” Jessome said, referring to the three-year deal negotiated by the former NDP government.

“We believe that they’re going to come with some kind of wage restraint.”

Rick Clarke, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, said union members and their salaries make a major contribution to their local economies. Clarke questioned governments that look for savings through wage freezes or rollbacks.

“I think what they really have to do is find ways to grow the economy. And if they can’t find ways to grow, they’re not only cash strapped, they’re idea poor.”

In Halifax, Monday’s annual event started with a rally in Victoria Park before participants marched to the Halifax Commons for a barbecue, speeches and other activities.

At a Cape Breton rally, participants used their concerns as a call to action for the next federal election.

“As a post worker, for us in the coming year, we’re going to look at saving the public service for all Canadians,” said Gordon MacDonald, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers’ Breton Local 117. “How is it expected that seniors and disabled people will be able to go down the road a mile or two and get their mail?”

“Our mission will be to side with other affiliates, (including) the veterans, and defeat the government that’s in power today.”

Speaking about the impacts of the essential-services legislation, known as Bill 37, Halifax-area registered nurse Trish MacDonald said the bill may have passed, but nurses’ concerns about scheduling and rest time were ultimately heard.

Capital Health recently hired 130 new nurses, something MacDonald suggested was the result of the public pressure nurses and union supporters exerted on the province and health authority during Bill 37 debate.

A one-day walkout and protests may have facilitated the eventual hiring of new nurses in Halifax, but it didn’t do much to build support for the union at the time.

Opinion polls after the passage of Bill 37 showed the public strongly behind the government for its bill, which requires employers and employees to agree on essential-service staffing levels before workers can strike.

Despite that, Clarke and Jessome said they believe the public is supportive of unions and their efforts on behalf of workers. Jessome said there is public support for union efforts until it inconveniences people’s day-to-day lives. That’s nothing new, she said.

“The minute it impacts them, then the tone changes, and I think you’ll find that in any dispute in labour right across the country, and right across the world, for that matter.”